Board of Directors and Staff

LAIRD VAN DAMME

Thunder Bay, ON

Chair, August 2020 to August 2023

Mr. Van Damme is a registered professional forester (R.P.F.) since 1985 and is based in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  He has worked in many jurisdictions in North America and overseas as a consultant and co-owner of KBM Resources Group. KBM had forestry operations in Northwestern Ontario and Chile with an active trading partnership with Sweden. The firm has expanded its services to include aerial surveys using advanced sensors.  He is now an independent consultant serving public and private agencies.  He is also an Adjunct Professor at Lakehead University where he teaches forest policy and forest products marketing classes among other tasks and research programs. He graduated from Lakehead University with a Masters in Forest Science (genetics) in 1985.

ADAM BROWN

Marathon, ON

Vice-Chair, July 2020 to July 2023

Mr. Brown has been the Chief Executive Officer of the North of Superior Healthcare Group since 2013, following progressively responsible roles in finance and operations at Wilson Memorial General Hospital in Marathon. Prior to his role in healthcare, Adam served in senior financial roles in both forestry and mining operations and began his career in public accounting. Adam is currently the Chair of North of Superior Counselling Programs, a member of the Technical Advisory Committee for the Northshore Natural Gas Project, past Chair of the Marathon Economic Development Corporation and has served in Executive Board level roles in numerous local and regional healthcare care and recreation organizations. Adam holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Finance from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Minnesota.

JULIE ROY-WARD

Hornepayne, ON

Director, May 2022 to May 2025

Ms. Roy-Ward is the President of JulieRW Consulting. Ms. Roy-Ward is a former CAO/Clerk/Treasurer with the Township of Hornepayne and former Administrator of the Hornepayne Roman Catholic Separate School Board. Her community involvement includes Director with the NordAski Board of Directors as well as past terms as a Delegate of the Northern Credit Union, as Vice President of the Hornepayne Economic Development Committee and as Secretary of the Hornepayne Three Bears Daycare Board of Directors. Ms. Roy-Ward holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the University of Waterloo.

TINA FORSYTH

White River, ON

Director, January 2020 to June 2023

Ms. Forsyth has been employed by the Township of White River for nearly 20 years and is currently the CAO/Clerk/Treasurer. She is an active member of numerous community committees and boards, including the Superior East Community Futures Development Corporation Board of Directors since 2007, and Secretary/Treasurer for the White River Community Food Bank Committee and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 169. Ms. Forsyth is the chair of the Audit and Finance Committee, bringing knowledge and experience in the areas of economic development, management, human resources, labour negotiation and business. Ms. Forsyth is a long time resident of White River and holds a Bachelors Degree of Science in Management from Lake Superior State University.

GRANT GOODWIN

Manitouwadge, ON

Director, July 2020 to July 2023

Mr. Goodwin is a lifetime resident of Manitouwadge. A graduate of the Recreation Leadership program at Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology and Cabinet Maker program at Sault College, Mr. Goodwin spent 30 years in Municipal Recreation Management with the Township of Manitouwadge. With business ownership experience, he brings years of expertise in business planning & development, financial control and human resource management. His volunteering work includes Ducks Unlimited and the Manitouwadge Rod and Gun Club, as well as chairing the Local Citizen’s Committee for over 20 years. In 2009, he received Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement 2009.

JESSE GAUDETTE

Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg First Nation, ON

Director, August 2020 to August 2023

Mr. Gaudette is a proud member of Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg First Nation. He attended Sault College from 2013-2015 where he studied Natural Environment Technician. Over the summer seasons while attending Sault College, he was employed through Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg’s summer student program, and placed in the Lands and Resources department for 3 consecutive summers. After his education, he sought employment in the Forestry Industry and was hired on with Jackfish River Management, based out of Hornepayne, ON. Subsequent to Jackfish, he was hired on with Maygwayyawk Forestry Services (MFS), based out of White River, where he was a forestry technician. Mr. Gaudette is currently employed with Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg as the Lands and Resources Manager.

JOANNE MICHANO

Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nation, ON

Director, August 2020 to August 2023

Ms. Michano is a Band Manager for Biigtigong Nishnaabeg. Her community involvement includes serving as Band Manager and Chief Executive Officer for Biigtigong Nishnaabeg.

CARMELO NOTARBARTOLO

General Manager

Carmelo is from Northwestern Ontario. He is a graduate of Confederation College from the Accounting & Finance program.  He has 10 years of senior management experience in Municipal Government prior to joining NFMC in February 2014 as the Crown Agency’s first permanent General Manager.   Carmelo has lived most of his adult life in Northwestern Ontario, having lived in Terrace Bay for 12 years and currently residing in his hometown of Thunder Bay.

JORY CARUSO
Finance Manager

Jory is from Northwestern Ontario. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA). He obtained his HBComm at Lakehead University. Jory has been with NFMC since October 2021. His work experience includes external and internal audit, tax, policy development, accounting, and finance.

NEIL MCDONALD R.P.F.
Operations Manager

Neil is from Southern Ontario. He is a Registered Professional Forester (R.P.F.) with two natural resource focused diplomas from Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology (Sault Ste, Marie, Ontario) and an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from Lakehead University (Thunder Bay, Ontario). Neil has been with NFMC since 2013. Before working at NFMC, he worked for the Ministry of Natural Resources, Regional Operations Division in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

DANA BOND
Office/Health and Safety Coordinator

Dana is from southern Ontario. She has been an employee of NFMC since it was established in Marathon in 2013. Dana has an undergraduate degree from Trent University. Prior to joining the NFMC, Dana worked at Trent University and for the Government of Canada in various capacities.

BRETT REDDEN
Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator

Brett is from Newfoundland. He is a Canadian PGA Professional and former Registered Massage Therapist, with a background and extensive experience in the recruitment of healthcare professionals. Since March 2006, he has resided in Marathon, Ontario and has worked in many jurisdictions in Canada.   He graduated from The Golf Academy of the South in Winter Springs, Florida with a specialized degree in Golf Operations Management, and has a diploma in Massage Therapy from  Northumberland College of Massage Therapy and Hydrotherapy in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

ALAINA VANDERVOORT
Planning Forester

Alaina is the Planning Forester for both the Pic and White River Forests and is currently working towards her Registered Professional Forester (R.P.F.) designation.

MATHEW HODGKIN
Silviculture Supervisor

Mathew is from southern Ontario. He currently oversees all Silviculture and renewal activities on the Pic and White River Forests. He is a provisional member with the Ontario Professional Forester`s Association (OPFA) and has over ten years of combined field experience working in the forests of Ontario and British Columbia. Mathew graduated from Sir Sandford Fleming College in 2010 and has since worked in natural resources for various levels of government, non-profit organizations, and in private consulting. Mathew was hired with NFMC in 2019.

KRISTINA SMITH
Silviculture Technician

Kristina has been working as a silviculturalist in Ontario for 10 years, 7 years in Hornepayne, ON. She graduated from the Forest Ecosystem Management Technician (FEMT) program in 2015, returning to Northern Ontario to lead the renewal programs on the Nagagami and White River Forests. She joined NFMC in March of 2019 to oversee the renewal operations on the White River Forest.

SAVANNAH PATON
Seasonal Silviculture Technician

Savannah is from Northern Ontario. She was raised in Manitouwadge, a community located within the Pic Forest. Savannah grew up participating in various outdoor activities that her community and Pic Forest had to offer, such as hunting, fishing, and camping. This is where her love of the outdoors and interest in forestry began. She obtained her Diploma in the Forestry Technician Ecosystem Management Program at Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology in Thunder Bay ON. Savannah has worked in NFMC’s Silviculture program since 2018. She plans to continue to be a part of regenerating the forest in the area she calls home.

SHAYLE LARIVIERE
Senior GIS Technical Specialist

Shayle is from Northern Ontario. She has resided in Marathon since she began work at NFMC in November of 2019. Prior to NFMC, she worked for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry in a number of different roles relating to forestry, lands, administration, and GIS. Most of her work experience is in managing and maintaining large databases of infrastructure for Ontario. Shayle has a B.A. in Geography and a Certificate in Geographic Techniques from Laurentian University.

ALEXANDRE GRENIER
Forest Operations Technical Specialist

Alexandre is from Northern Ontario. Upon graduating from the Forest Ecosystem Management Technician program at Confederation College in Thunder Bay, Ontario, his career with NFMC began as a Silviculture Assistant during the summer of 2018.  As a Forest Operations Technical Specialist, he is responsible for administering the compliance program, inspect infrastructure, monitor field operations, enforce Health & Safety and Environmental Management systems across the Pic and White River Forests.

JOSHUA DEJONG
Forest Operations Technical Specialist

Joshua is from Southwestern Ontario. He graduated from the Forest Technician and Fish and Wildlife Technician programs at Sir Sandford Fleming College.  Joshua started working for NFMC in the spring of 2019.  As a Forest Operations Technical Specialist, he is responsible for administering the compliance program, inspect infrastructure, monitor field operations, enforce Health & safety and Environmental Management systems across the Pic and White River Forests.